Switch and fixture support



May 27, 1930. M. N. RUSSELL 1,760,003

SWITCH AND FIXTURE SUPPORT Filed Jan. 28, 1927 Patented May 27, 1930 NI ED STATES PA ENT OFFVFICEZ'T MARK N. RUSSELL, on sY-n oosE, ir'n-w'xonx, nssrenoa To. rAss & sn'YMoua, me, or SYRACUSE, NEW'YORK, A oonronn'rron or NEW YORK SWITCH nun FIXTURE SUPPORT Applicationfil ed January 28, 1927; Serial No. 164,307.

This invention relates to-electrical devices and more particularly to combination switch and canopy supports for electric fixtures.

It is a general object of the present invention to provide a novel and improved combination of the type described.

i just described or means forlockin'g Moreparticularly it 's an object of the present invention to provide'a device'for attaching 'a fixture canopy to the wall, the device carrying a switch for the fixture, so arranged that the switch and fixture can be coinpletely wired and the supporting device then adjusted to the proper length to project through the canopy just a sufiicient amount to receive a securing nut, Without twisting or disarranging the wires of the switch.

Another object of'the present invention consists in the provision ot'a mounting tube,

for a fixture canopy, having a switch carried thereto. 1

at one end'ther'eof and rotatable'in' respect A further object consists in the provision of a mounting "tube'adapted to pass through an aperture ina'mounting strap attached to an outlet box and to carry on'one'end a switch rotatable in respect to the tube and provided with an operating means passing through the tube, the tube being adjustable longitudinally in respect to the'strap, there being'nieans to lock the switch in respect .to'the tube "when desired.-

A stillfu'rther object of the present invention consists in the provisionina device as the tube in respect to-the strap.

Other and'further objects'of the invention will be more apparent tothose skilled in the art after a consideration of the following specification; and accompanying drawing wherein are disclosed two embodiments of the invention, it being 'understood, however, that various char'igs may be, inade therein such as fall withinthe' scope of theappended'claiins without'departing froin the'spiri-t o-fthe iir vention.

In said dr'awingi Y Fig. l is' a section through a canop and outlet box showing the device of the present invention applied thereto Fig. 2 shows the device in central section;

Fig. 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Fig. 2; and

stud could be adjusted inrelation to the strap or hickey so that ust the proper amount projected through the canopy. With such an ar-. ragernent it was convenient to use a canopy switch, i; 'e. a sniall switch adapted to loosecured n the canopy and having an operat ng knob on the outside. This construction re quired two holes in the canopy, one for the stud and one for the switch, and required sev eral addltlonal operations 111 assembling-and mountlng. The present device contemplates the combination of the switch and supporting stud so that the canopy need have but a'single hole. i

as is usually secured in a wall 11 substantiaL ly flush withthe surface thereof. The Canepy' 12 represents any suitable form of canopy as provided on various'wall fixtures or brackets. The canopy 12 s provided with a suitable aperture 13. Attached to cars 14 in the box 10 by means of screws 15 is the inounting strap 17 having slots 16 for the reception of Where necessary or desirable, iii this strap may be replaced by a suitable adaptthe screws.-

er securedto the bottom of the box or to a Referring to the drawing, there shown. at 10 a conventional form of outlet box such hickey therein,- the only requirement being that there be a suitable hole 18 through the strap or other adapterand space behind the 1. sanie for'the switch 19. The walls of the hole '18 are threaded to rec 'eivectlie tube or hollow. Stud 20' which is threaded into the I opening l8and is adapted to pass" through the opening 13in the fixture canopy'an'd rec'eive ovenits end'the nut 21 which engages the canopy and retains it iii position with its periphery22 engagementwith the wall projectsany desired distance from the wall surface by rotating it. In this'way, it is adjustable for varying depths of canopy, so that to further retract the tube within the box 10. It may be found desirable to provide a lock nut such as 23 to'secure the stem of the tube in fixed position after it has been adjusted to the proper length so that the nut 21 may more readilybe tightened.

The switch 19 may be ofany of the conventional fcanopy switch types and herein has been shown as of the flat variety in order that less depth be needed. The internalstructure has not been fully disclosed since such structures are well known. Itgis sufficient to state that the body portion 2%i is preferably formed of a non-conducting plastic composition which receives the stationary contacts connected to the wires 25. A spring 26 is sulating plate 27 serves to-position the spring 26 and to cover the contacts so that the top of the switch may be closed by a'metal plate 28; This plate is pressed outwardly near thecenter as shown at 29 and is provided witha central aperture to reeeivethe reduced portion 30 of the tube 20. Afterthis re- V a canopy, of a strap secured ad a,cent. l1e open side of said box,.saidstrap having-a duced portion has been passed through the opening-in the plate 28, it is 'swagedover as at 31 to retain'the plate in position'pbut not sufficiently tight to prevent rotation. In

fact, the switch and the tube 20ar'eadapted for relative rotation with butlittle effort.

The plate 27 is attached to the switch body 1 the tube 20 and-the rod 33 in the counter bore I V through WhlCll said tube passesand means to spring 26 is straddled by a split insulating rod 33 carried ,on the end of themetal stem 34. The stem 34 is received inthebore of 35v thereof. The stem 34 extends beyond the end 36 of the tube 20 and is adapted toreceive thereon the operating knob 37 which is preferablyslightly less in diameter than the tube 20, in order that the nut 21 may be removed or placed in po'sitionwithout remov 7 ing the operating knob37'.

Arranging. the switchto be rotatable in respect to the'tube 20 materially simplifies the operation ofg mounting and wiring the fixture; The tube 20 maybe assembled in the strap 17 and thestrap mounted on the box.

The fixture and the switchjarethen suitably wired tothe service wires and the canopy is then fitted overthe tube 20, to determine whether or-not thetube is inthe proper. position. Ifit needs adjustment either inward- 1y or outwardly, the sameisobtained by roken.

against rotation; in'respect to thestem in orbeing applied.

tating this tube so that its threaded engagement with the strap will cause the proper movement. The switch is prevented from rotating by its terminal wires25 which, therefore, donot become twisted, tangled or bro- Any amount of adjustment maybe made without, afl'ecting these "wiresa WVhen the adjustment is found to be proper, itmay sometimes be desirable to lock" the switch der that the terminal wires may not take the operating torque of the switch. This may readily be accomplished by tightening the lock nut 38 threaded onthe tube 20 so that it engages with the metal cover plate ofthe switch. The canopy is then placed inposition and the nut 21 applied and tightened.

The lock nut 23 is of such a diameter that it projects beyond the edges of the strap 17 as shown in Fig. 3. so thatit may readily b.0 2 tightened with the fingers. This nut, however, maybe eliminateda If it i'seliminated,

. it is preferred to provide thestrap 17 with an inwardly turned tubular portion 39 which forms the wall of the threaded hole through the strap for receiving the tube 20. 'In this manner, a greater number of threads in the strap are engaged by the tube 20 and there will be sufficient friction to normally prevent the tube from rotating when the nut';21, is e5 Having thus described the invention, whatisclaimed as new and desired tobe secured by Letters Patent is:

1. The combination-with ian'oii'tlet box and ioo threaded opening therethrough at right angles to said open side of saidbox, as up' porting tube passing-throughsaid openin si and having adjustable threaded engagement, with said strap tothereby supportsaid tube,

V a switch supported solely hythe end'ofsaid' tube facing said box, said switch and; tube being relatively rotatahley an operating means for said switch passing through said tube, said canopy having a" hole therein,

support said canopy solely from said tube.

2..The combination of; an; outlet box, @4

into said hole "with one sendin ssaid -box,- a.'; 120 lock nut on said tube to secure, the same in, f I

adjustedposition in said strap,-a switch havmg a h0us1ng, sa1d-b0x end ofjsaid'tu'be passing intosaid housing and rotatablysei cured therein, a lock nut on said tube to sea- 1 25 1 cure said tube and housing against. relative rotation, a rod extending throughsaid tube, attached to. the switch mechanism, andrhaving an 7 operating .knobf at the outer end, 1 a

e py ov r; a d, ox, r aid? tube, passi g no 1 so T through said canopy, and a nut threaded on said tube and holding the canopy in position.

3. In a device of the type described, in combination, a securing strap adapted to be attached to a support, a hollow stem passing through said strap and adjustable longitudinally therein, means on saidst'em to engage a iinture to secure the same to said support, a switch on one end of said stem, a

switch operator on the other end of said stem, and means passing through said stem associating said switch and operator.

4. In a device of the type described, in combination, a securing strap adapted to be attached to a. support, a hollow stem passing through said strap in threaded engagement therewith, means on said stem remote from said support to engage a fixture, a switch can ried by the end of the stem adjacent said support, and means passing through said stem to control said switch.

5. In a device of the type described, in combination, a securing strap adapted to be 5 attached to a support, a hollow stem passing through said strap in threaded engagement therewith, means on said stem remote from said support to engage a fixture, a switch carried by the end of the stem adjacent said support, and bodily rotatable thereon, and means passing through said stem to control said switch.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

MARK RUSSELL. 

